Francis Flores, Making Room for Another Beginning
Updated: 20 hours ago
Meet 2026 Voices and Dreams Academy participant Francis Flores Ahumada
2026 VOICES AND DREAMS ACADEMY PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT
“Sometimes when we cannot see a way forward, someone else can see it for us.”
Francis Flores Ahumada came to Wisconsin from Peru in December 2007 expecting to stay for only a few months. She was studying journalism, deeply connected to her family and ready for the experience of working abroad. She never imagined the life she would eventually build here—or the friendship that would help her through one of her hardest moments.
Her path has included work in hospitality, childcare, customer service, manufacturing, and most recently, administrative support. Each transition has asked her to learn new skills and adapt to a different setting. Through it all, Francis has discovered that her future can grow in ways she could not have planned at the beginning.
Francis Flores, Making Room for Another Beginning, A short visit becomes a new life
Francis arrived through a Work and Travel program and began working at a Wisconsin ski resort. Her English was limited at first, and being far from family required an adjustment she had never expected to make for long. She learned the language gradually and moved to Wisconsin Dells, where she met a woman named Lupe.
The two had not known each other long when Francis encountered a difficult setback. Lupe’s response helped Francis keep going. Their friendship grew over the years, and Francis still carries its lessons with her.
Francis will share the full significance of Lupe’s generosity in her own words at Voices & Dreams Live. An unexpected act of care helped her see a future when she was struggling to imagine one.
A career built across many roles
Francis studied journalism at Jaime Bausate y Meza in Lima before coming to the United States. Although she did not finish the degree, her education still shapes the curiosity and communication skills she brings to her work.
In Wisconsin, Francis has cared for children, worked in collections and customer service, inspected products for quality in a cheese factory, and operated machinery in manufacturing. Those jobs required patience, attention to detail, consistency, and the ability to work with people in different circumstances.
In June 2026, Francis began a new role as an administrative assistant with the National Youth Advocate Program in Madison. She supports daily office operations, including expense reports, invoices, purchasing, inventory, training logistics, and onboarding. The role draws on the organizational skills she developed across her earlier work and gives her another opportunity to keep learning.
Francis Flores Francis Flores flyer for the event on sunday, nov 1 Francis Flores Francis Flores at Forward Fest 
Francis Flores
The courage to keep learning
For a long time, Francis worried that leaving college unfinished and getting older meant certain opportunities had passed her by. She is beginning to see her journey differently. Her education didn't end when she left the classroom, and her ability to grow didn't expire at a particular age.
That change in perspective is one reason Francis joined Voices and Dreams Academy. She wants to become more comfortable speaking publicly and sharing the experiences that have shaped her. Telling her story is also a way to honor a friendship that changed her life.
Francis hopes people will hear in her journey the possibility of accepting help, beginning again, and offering kindness when they have the chance. She knows that even a small act of care can travel far beyond the moment in which it is given.
A story to share
Francis’s path from Peru to Wisconsin includes unexpected turns, lasting relationships and an ongoing search for what comes next. She is still figuring things out, and she no longer believes that uncertainty means she has run out of time.
At Voices & Dreams Live, Francis will share the fuller story of the friend who helped her keep going—and what friendship means to her today. Her journey reminds us that the next chapter can begin with another person's support and the decision to take one more step.
About Francis Flores Ahumada
Francis Flores Ahumada is an administrative professional in Madison, Wisconsin. Originally from Peru, she studied journalism before coming to the United States in 2007. Her experience includes childcare, customer service, quality inspection, manufacturing and office administration. She currently works as an administrative assistant with the National Youth Advocate Program. Francis is a participant in the 2026 Voices and Dreams Academy, where she is developing her public-speaking confidence and sharing a story about friendship, generosity, and the courage to keep growing.
Connect with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-flores-ahumada-b64618150/
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